Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rael—determined never again to live under its enemies—controls this and all of the high
ground around its borders.
Hearing an Israeli explain the importance of keeping the high ground while overlooking
the Sea of Galilee from a former Syrian pillbox atop the Golan Heights, it was easy to get
the point.
A similar spot is the fortification atop Mount Bental. From this Golan Heights view-
point, you can look into Syria toward its capital, Damascus—just 35 miles to the north. As
long as things are peaceful, the fort is treated as a scenic tourist depot. The trenches and
barbed wire here provide a kind of commando playground for visiting Israelis. There's
even an open-air modern art gallery with installations made of rusty military hardware and
barbed wire. The café on Mount Bental is named “Coffee Annan,” a clever reminder that
former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan once led the UN troops stationed
below.
